Disappointed...but OK

books:


	• My First Baby Signs Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn HarperFestival, 2002 - 24 pages average customer review:based on 36 reviews view larger image
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Disappointed...but OK

I guess I should have looked a little further before ordering this Baby Signs book. I was looking for something that would help my daughter communicate her needs, such as "Hungry," "Thirsty," and "Tired." This is not that book. This book has signs for "Baby," "Flower," "Dog," "Ball," and other similar signs for animals and such. Nice, but not useful for our first venture into signing. On the plus side, the book is nice and sturdy, the pictures are great, and my daughter did enjoy it. I will try to find one that has the actual signs that we need in it.

Baby's favorite book

I am surprised to see quite a few negative reviews here on our favorite books - it looks like many people don't like the "baby signs" series of little books just because these are not based on ASL. IMHO, this is akin to criticizing a French text book because it doesn't teach Spanish. If it's ASL that you want to teach your baby, just pick books on that subject and leave these alone.

My baby and I are casual signers and I have not read the author's Baby Signs book for parents, but just from my own experience as a mommy, I can think of several good reasons to use "made-up" signs instead of ASL:

- If you're not already fluent in ASL, you won't need to go search in a dictionary or on the Internet every time you want to sign something new to your baby, which would mean losing good opportunities for introducing new signs.

- Some ASL signs are more complicated and while not exactly difficult, can be pretty unnatural for babies to do when they're just starting to learn how to control their hands.

- If baby comes up with a gesture himself that has meaning you understand, you can go along with him instead of "correcting" him.

And here are some additional "pros" on this series of adorable board books:

- Having the object pictured side-by-side with a baby demonstrating the sign is brilliant. The pictures of the object are often selected to include a version that babies would be more familiar with, like a stuffed animal. The pictures of the happy babies are great for your baby to identify himself with and to want to imitate.

- The "review" page at the end of each book shows pictures of all the objects without the signs, so you can point to each one, say the word, and let your baby try doing the sign.

- Did I already say adorable? Not only I love the pictures, my baby does, too! He not only learns the signs, but also learns to say the words with these books. "Baby" (or more like "baaa-beeeee") was one of my baby's first words, and he says it when he asks to read these books (which is all the time).

And these provide such a fun and loving way for babies to learn to express themselves and communicate with their parents! Ultimately, that's what I want to do with my baby, not stressing ourselves out trying to do ASL correctly. Baby and I highly recommend all 4 "baby signs" board books in this series.

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My baby loves it

My little guy has learned about half the signs in the book and is so proud of himself when he does them. It seems like looking at the pictures of the babies signing gives him incentive to learn. When he does the signs he is so proud. It's a fun book to read to him, and introduces a few signs that are simple for him to learn. Not all the signs are so useful, like 'hat,' but it's an easy one for him to do.

Love This Series!

My children have had a blast looking at these books! They are great, with real life babies to relate to. Fun reading for anytime!!

Mother of 4

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

All babies have a lot to say, even before they can actually speak. Baby Signs are simple gestures that allow babies and toddlers to communicate what they see, what they need, and even how they feel without the need of words they have yet to learn. Research has shown that Baby Signs decrease frustration and tantrums and help your baby talk sooner. Author: Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn Illustrator: Penny GentieuPublisher: Harper Collins